Course Info

Information about the course.

HIA 321: History of Ancient Rome. 3 hours, 3 credits. In-Person lecture. Writing Intensive. 

In this course we will explore the foundation and development of the Roman state, including the rise and decline of the Roman Republic and the establishment and fall of the Empire, with emphasis on its political, economic, social, and cultural achievements.

Details HIA 321-XH81 (52303), Spring 2023.

Instructor Dr. Mark B. Wilson, Adjunct Assistant Professor.

Office hours Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:00–5:45 p.m. in CA-292.

Rationale

The colossal achievement of the Romans—a single city indelibly suffusing its unique sensibility through the entire ancient Mediterranean world—is only part of the Roman story. The people of Rome gained economic, political, military, and cultural dominance over the ancient West and laid the foundations for the medieval and modern worlds through a fascinating mixture of synthesis and adaptation, on the one hand, and unshakable faith in the Roman identity, on the other. How the Romans acquired an empire, and how that empire constantly reshaped Roman society, tells us not only about the Western civilization that descended from them, but about the dynamics of society, empire, and power.

Specific Learning Objectives

In this course we’ll be pursuing a number of goals, including: